Supposed safe havens continue to lose their shine, making it time for investors to shift from those assets into \”value\” investments, says the cross-asset strategy team at Societe Generale in a fresh note published Friday.

Mark Travis, fund manager of the Intrepid Small Cap Fund
and the Intrepid Capital Fund
has no problem describing his investment style as conservative. At least among energy firms, he looks for companies that run their books the same way. \”I\’m morally opposed to losing other people\’s money,\” he said an interview. \”We have stringent requirements.\” He currently favors shares of oil service firm Patterson UTI
and independent natural gas producer Bill Barrett Corp.
. Outside the energy patch, Staples Inc.
and Big Lots Inc.
currently rank as top picks.

Hewlett-Packard
is probably testing the patience of value investors — the kind of types who buy unloved stocks and wait for the rest of the market to come around on the stock. Such is the case for H-P, which lured the value crowd earlier this year.

1. Investing marks of two new hedge-fund managers appointed as part of a succession plan for when octogenarian Buffett no longer runs the company. In January, former Peninsula Capital Advisors manager Ted Weschler joined Berkshire, following hedge-fund manager Todd Combs, named in 2010.

Buffett made his fortune by taking well-timed stakes in companies that met his investing principles – solid management, a healthy dividend, and plenty of cash on hand. Typically, these businesses produce items or services that were obvious to the average investor, like Geico\’s car insurance or Coca-Cola ko
.

In the middle of our on-again, off-again recovery – and with the U.S. markets lately bouncing around like a monkey on a stick — MarketWatch’s Jonathan Burton talked to Simon Hallett, chief investment officer of investment manager Harding Loevner, about how to seek out growth companies in a time of economic stagnation. Hallett specializes in […]

About The Tell

The Tell is MarketWatch’s fast and engaging look at trends and themes in the day’s markets. Drawing on our reporters, analysts and commentators around the world, as well as selecting the best of the rest online, The Tell is all about the pulse of the markets through news, insight and strategic information to help you make the best investing decisions. Got a tip? Tell us at TheTell@MarketWatch.com